Reviews with content warning for Grief - At First Spite

I absolutely adore this book. It's the fluffy funny romance I expected, but at the same time so much more. It's depiction of depression is so recognizable. While reading that part was a struggle and did hurt, it hurt in a good way. I'm very glad I picked up this book. I love it

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krysley's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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lololovesthings's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5 STARS!

I loved "At First Spite" by Olivia Dade so, so much. This book is an utter delight. It is sweet, smart, sexy, deep, intricate, poignant, and laugh-out-loud funny. Dade balances serious mental health struggles with over-the-top sunshine-y-ness and zaniness as she introduces us to her new series that takes place in the fictional town of Harlot's Bay.

I adored the main characters, Athena and Matthew. Athena is pure plus-sized sunshine on the outside, but has a lot of doubt and self-questioning/self-loathing on the inside. She has struggled to find her place in the world and frequently gets bored with work and school, so she is really good at a lot of different things and possesses many varied skills. Dr. Matthew Vine the Third is an innocent, virgin, caregiver pediatrician who is ignorant when it comes to pop culture, internet slang, and memes. He is headstrong because he has always had to be. He doesn't show emotion, is as grumpy as can be, is severely judgmental, and just so happens to have fallen head-first for Athena in just a couple of minutes, only to realize that she is his brother Johnny's fiance, the one he has been trying to get him to dump since getting engaged. When Athena moves to Harlot's Bay to live in the "Spite House," the wonkily built home situated next door to her fiance's house and was purchased for him as a wedding present, she seems to run into Doctor Matthew Vine the Third quite a bit. Running into the guy who broke up your pending nuptials is a tough, tough thing to deal with. They both live in the same town but remain as lonely as ever. Dade treats depression, mental health, and loneliness with tenderness, care, and heartbreaking accuracy, never once chastising Athena or Matthew despite the wrongs they may have done in their lives. I clung to each and every word of this well-written, thoughtful, wonderful novel. Please read this unputdownable, lovely book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Dade, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

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instalovewithbooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I love everything Olivia Dade writes, and this one is as brilliant as the rest of hers. I will be purchasing a physical copy. 🥰

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time4tori2read's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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lmeierhoff's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Probably my favorite romance of the year so far! Olivia Dade writes such emotional stories, and this one does not shy away from difficult topics like depression and grief. Best bathtub scene ever.

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neighbor_reads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful fast-paced

Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Olivia Dade is a really talented writer, and this book is another example of her funny, dynamic voice! The chemistry is great. The characters are loveable. The character growth is really well-done.

This being said, though I liked Athena a lot, Matthew was really intense in a way that I found unsettling. He becomes obsessed with Athena even when she's engaged to his brother. His actions after that only become more troubling, from my perspective.

Interfering with her job and sending unsolicited reference letters (for someone he has never worked with...)? Paying her mortgage without her consent (also how would that be allowed when he doesn't have any of the paperwork details? He just called and said "I want to pay Athena's mortgage" and they said "sure buddy"?). Breaking into her house through an open window? All of this is honestly concerning and not romantic. At the end of the story, his goals in life ultimately end in him supporting whatever Athena wants to do, which isn't a healthy foundation for a relationship.

Him also being a virgin but somehow a sex god was boring, too. Let's celebrate small dicks! Let's celebrate learning together and not being immediately amazing at sex with no experience! Sex is more fun that way!

I think this is a fun and lighthearted read, especially for fans of the enemies to lovers trope, but I think the MMC fell flat in so many areas for me.

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